Improvement in slates



UNITED STATES EEIcE.

CHARLES C. SHEPHERD, OF PASSAIG, JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN SLATES.

` Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,126, dated June 29, 1875,' application filed November 24, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES C. SHEPHERD, of Passaic, in the county of Passaic and State New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in School-Slates, of which the following is a specilcation:

The'object of this invention is to support the slate in an inclined position, similar to a desk, and to use such support as a box for `holding copy-slats that are placed in a recess at the top ot' the slate, and retained while being copied, by the pupil, on the slate.

In the drawing, Figure l is a plan, Fig. 2 is a section at the line w x, and Fig. 3 represents the twoends, of the box and copy-slats, at the line z z.

The slate a and frame b are supported by the box c, that is attached to the underside of the frame, and the end pieces l of the box extend beyond the said box, and are triangug the spring i, which yields sufficiently to allow the other end of the slat to pass down the ineline at o, and catch beneath its lower edge by the spring moving said slat endwise. The

slat rests at one edge upon the formingone side of the box.

In order to liberate the slat when the same is to be changed, I make use ot a tape, o, or strip of'muslin, or similar material, that is attached at its inner end Within the box, preferabl y by glue. The other portion hangs over the incline o; hence said strip is crimped over the end ofthe slat as said slat is forcedinto place; but when the end of this strip o is pulled upon7 it serves to move the sla-t end- Wise, and liberate the end of said slat from beneath the edge of o, and raise said slat from the slate, so that it may be changed.

One ofthe triangular end pieces d may be made with a hole bored into it from the back, of a size adapted to receive a slate-pencil, and a turning-plate forming a cover may be'applied at the end.

I claim as my inventionl. The slate c and frame b, with the box c, projecting below the plane of the slate to form a support, and the movable copy-slats h, all combined and arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with a slate-frame, of the spring i, strip or tape o, incline o, and movable copy-slath, substantially as set forth.

4Dated November 19,1874.

oHAs. o. SHEPHERD.

support s,

Witnesses:

GEO, T. PINCKNEY, OHAs. H. SMITH. 

